WE PAY. YOU PLAY!

I just checked my e-mail and noticed the following advertisement: “WE PAY. YOU PLAY! - A CREDIT CARD FOR PEOPLE WITH BAD CREDIT!” I guess it shouldn’t surprise me that even with the state of our economy being the way it is, that those kind of sales tactics are still being used. I really hope that people in our country are too smart to fall for the idea that we can play all we want and not ever suffer the consequences of our actions. The really sad part for me to watch is that those consequences often fall on the innocent. Our new neighborhood is full of some of the sweetest retired people who have worked so hard their whole lives to save for the future, giving much along the way to help those in need. Now they can’t help but worry if what they have saved will be enough to sustain them throughout their old age. Then there are so many losing their jobs and unable to provide for their families.

We had a wonderful older man speak to us today about what an inspiration his aunt was to him. She passed away not too long ago and the most she ever earned was $20,000 a year. Shortly before she passed away she talked to him about how she really didn’t want to die. She loved her life and was so happy and grateful for all that God had given her. She cherished all of the wonderful memories that she had made and had such a happy life despite her meager income. This man is retired and talked about the changes in our economy and how he and the rest of us are going to have to learn how to live simply as she did. He also talked about how the prophets have been telling us for over a century that we need to live simply. I think the thing that touched me the most was the fact that instead of feeling resentment, he feels that if we learn to live simply (because of choice or because of necessity), we will be blessed because we will remember the important things in life and spend time with those we love. He had such a positive, optimistic outlook on things even though his savings has been greatly depleted because of the poor choices of so many. I just love the wisdom of so many of our neighbors and their amazing examples of faith and optimism! Some other day I need to write about my favorite neighbor. Her name is Joy and her name reflects her sweetness - but I'll save that for another day!

I was trying to look up some of the quotes that this man used, but came up with a talk by Elder Worthlin from 2004 that summarizes what we have heard for soooo long regarding finances. I've only included bits and pieces here, so feel free to check out the whole thing if you want! Oh, and just so you know I am in no way trying to preach! I, like anyone else have plenty of room to do better in this area and really hope to work in the coming years on Elder Worthlin’s 3rd and 5th suggestions! I know that as we try to follow the counsel of the prophets, we will be blessed as a nation!

“Remember this: debt is a form of bondage. It is a financial termite. When we make purchases on credit, they give us only an illusion of prosperity. We think we own things, but the reality is, our things own us.”

Elder Worthlin then suggests 5 key steps to financial freedom that we’ve heard over and over again from the prophets.

“1-Pay your tithing. Do you want the windows of heaven opened to you? Do you wish to receive blessings so great there is not room enough to receive them? Always pay your tithing and leave the outcome in the hands of the Lord. Obedience to God’s commandments is the foundation for a happy life.
2-Spend less than you earn. This is simple counsel but a powerful secret for financial happiness. All too often a family’s spending is governed more by their yearning than by their earning. They somehow believe that their life will be better if they surround themselves with an abundance of things. All too often all they are left with is avoidable anxiety and distress. Credit is so easy to obtain. In fact, it is almost thrust upon us. Those who use credit cards to overspend unwisely should consider eliminating them.
3-Learn to save. The wise understand the importance of saving today for a rainy day tomorrow. They have adequate insurance that will provide for them in case of illness or death. Where possible, they store a year’s supply of food, water, and other basic necessities of life. They set aside money in savings and investment accounts. They work diligently to reduce the debt they owe to others and strive to become debt free. Brothers and sisters, the preparations you make today may one day be to you as the stored food was to the Egyptians and to Joseph’s father’s family.
4- Fourth, honor your financial obligations. From time to time, we hear stories of greed and selfishness that strike us with great sorrow. We hear of fraud, defaulting on loan commitments, financial deceptions, and bankruptcies. We are a people of integrity. We believe in honoring our debts and being honest in our dealings with our fellow men. (He tells an incredibly inspiring story about a man who sacrifices so much in order to repay his debt.)
5- Fifth, teach your children to follow your example. Too many of our youth get into financial difficulty because they never learned proper principles of financial common sense at home. Teach your children while they are young. Teach them that they cannot have something merely because they want it. Teach them the principles of hard work, frugality, and saving. If you don’t consider yourself informed well enough to teach them, all the more reason for you to begin learning.

The scriptures tell us, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” The riches of this world are as dust compared to the riches that await the faithful in the mansions of our Heavenly Father. How foolish is he who spends his days in the pursuit of things that rust and fade away. How wise is he who spends his days in the pursuit of eternal life.
Know within your hearts that Jesus the Christ lives. Be at peace, for as you draw near to Him, He will draw near to you. Let not your hearts be weary, but rejoice."

Joseph B. Wirthlin, “Earthly Debts, Heavenly Debts,” Liahona, May 2004, 40–43

I also loved this quote that President Monson used from Sarah Ban Breathnach in his recent talk, "Finding Joy in the Journey": “Both abundance and lack [of abundance] exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend … when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present—love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us [happiness]—the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth.”

I guess that is why that sweet man's aunt didn't care to die. She had already found heaven on earth!